Countdown from £28k...

ryanm8655

Internet was installed this morning and it makes such a difference. Actually been able to do a proper days work and feel so much better mentally. Sure there will be ups and downs while lockdown ensues...can also sort the firestick out so that I can watch tv properly...

Waking up early didn't go exactly to plan, I some how turned my alarm off in my sleep (no idea how) but did get up earlier than usual...was up for 9.15...so that's progress I guess Luckily I misread the text in any case and internet supplier was due anytime after 9am. Had a late breakfast, made lunch and will have last nights leftovers for dinner, so a slightly more structured day. Just need to keep it going and keep improving.

gymgirl11 said:

John Lewis do their own version of a cordless hoover. I think they are about £130 and have a 4* rating so about £120 cheaper than the Dyson cordless one. The reviews look pretty decent if you have hard flooring rather than carpet though. 

Lockdown has taught me that a routine is the best way to go. Getting up at roughly the same time every morning, doing between 45 minutes - 1 hour of exercise on a weekday and a good breakfast and evening meal helps. 

I also budget for 2 takeaways a month - one for when I get paid as a treat (before lockdown I’d go for food and drinks on the nearest available Friday after payday) and then one for mid month when it slows down a bit to give me something to look forward too. If you’re tempted to buy more than one or two takeaways a month sometimes sending money to your savings account helps resist the urge to buy as you can then physically see the money in your savings pot instead of it just being meal on your plate  

Thanks for the heads up, reading reviews that looks a goer. Did see those and just assumed they can't be that good if they're that cheap. Will do a bit more reading but likely just order that one. All hardfloors. A few reviews saying it lost power after a few weeks and a few about it getting blocked but very much the minority and I don't think I'll be hoovering anything that could block it ha.

Good shout on the routine and two takeaways as well. I think if I get into a routine I wouldn't crave takeaway half as much to be honest. It's just the not having food in and seeing an easy option...good shout on sending money to savings too.

alt80 said:

Haha lockdown road beers best thing I’ve heard all week lol just don’t decide a walk in Derbyshire is the thing to do... they arrest them for a coffee there lol. 🍻

Work sounds like it’s going to be chaotic- wfh for foreseeable too presumably?

Recipe book from family sounds like a thoughtful gift mate. 100 agree homemade better. Takeaway bit of a rip off imo and not good for you either. Gym girl’s suggestion sounds good tbh. Something I found that stopped me having the odd takeaway years ago was working out takes longer to wait for the takeaway than it does to cook something if the ingredients are in ready to go. 

Haha...did go past a couple of police officers on the journey...

Yeah, it's ok at the moment but will be frantic going forward...a piece of work I hate and thought had been dropped seems to have popped up again today...a really stupid idea that the Secretary of State and policy won't let die Joys...

Yeah it was nice and gave me the kick up the !!!!!! I needed on the food front. Agree re: takeaway I had a half price voucher from ubereats but all of the saving was wiped out by the service and delivery charge so ended up paying the same as I would have eating out ha. Complete waste. You're right re: having the food in. The main issue I have is I don't have food I can knock up quickly and end up procrastinating so long about going to buy stuff that I then end up just ordering a takeaway (which is basicaly what happened Friday and Saturday).

I'll just keep stocking up on the basics. I was good on Sunday, just ate what I had at home as I was determined not to fall into old habits (my weekend routine was basically go out on Friday and Saturday, fester Sunday and eat takeaway). Hence forced myself into tidying etc. Also especially lame when I didn't even go out properly, just called people while mooching around drinking on the streets like a homeless person At least it was scenic though.

Sarahwithlove said:

Even once a week to start with for takeaways is better then every Fri and sat. Maybe see how you feel. I try and have 2 a month at most. But always have some Pizzas in freezer for easy dinner. 
Currys have some cordless hoovers on offer atm so maybe take a look at reviews on there. I just brought a new one but mine has a cord so can't help much I'm afraid. 

Will see how it goes but I'd like to instill some discipline and at least avoid takeaway this weekend haha. Even if I end up getting a pizza from Tesco or something instead. Did enjoy the cooking in the end though. Gave me a bit of a sense of achievement when it tasted decent

Will take a look at currys :-)

Onebrokelady

Have you got much freezer space, if so batch cooking could be a good idea for you, then on days when you don't want to cook you can just get something out the freezer instead. I try to do this as much as possible, so all meals I cook serve four but I just either eat the same thing for four days or I freeze the other portions for another day.Normally I use them on days when I'm working so I don't have too think about cooking when I get home  

rugbymadfamily

Defo worth having some convenience food at home to avoid the take away. I keep a couple of frozen pizzas in the freezer and some decent curry meals for those nights when I just can't face properly cooking from scratch / get tempted by a takeaway, means I can cook and eat before a takeaway would even have time to arrive so a winwin

enthusiasticsaver

Good that you  have internet sorted.  
The food situation is best sorted sooner rather than later before you start falling back into bad habits.  If it is because you have not bought any meals in yet then just a wander down to your local supermarket with a backpack should be fine for just you.  Get a couple of pizzas to put in a freezer compartment and a few trays of meat to prepare a spag bol or chicken stir fry or whatever.  Those are quick to do and don't take a lot of thinking about and you can either freeze a spare meal out of it or have the same meal two days running so you don't have to cook every day.  Think about the evening meal earlier in the day so you get organised. 

ryanm8655

Onebrokelady said:

Have you got much freezer space, if so batch cooking could be a good idea for you, then on days when you don't want to cook you can just get something out the freezer instead. I try to do this as much as possible, so all meals I cook serve four but I just either eat the same thing for four days or I freeze the other portions for another day.Normally I use them on days when I'm working so I don't have too think about cooking when I get home  

The freezer is vast, got 5/6 drawers that only contain frozen peas at the moment. So that is a good shout. Even just stocking up on easy stuff like pizzas, fish fingers (love a fish ginger sandwich with some decent bread) and a general stock of meat etc. Plus the freezing meals is a good idea so that the food doesn’t get too repetitive.

Made Singapore fried rice last night with an egg to garnish. Today it tasted better than a takeaway to be honest and out of a healthy cookbook so nowhere near as unhealthy.

Maybe bulk cooking is something to occupy me on weekends as I think they are the weak point as they’re the days with the least to do...

rugbymadfamily said:

Defo worth having some convenience food at home to avoid the take away. I keep a couple of frozen pizzas in the freezer and some decent curry meals for those nights when I just can't face properly cooking from scratch / get tempted by a takeaway, means I can cook and eat before a takeaway would even have time to arrive so a winwin

Definitely, takeaway has got so expensive since I was past in London as well. Paid £19 for 3 dishes from a Chinese I’ve ordered from years ago and got more for about £13. Then had honest burger on Saturday which came to £15 for a burger and chips even with half price (£7 for delivery and service), complete con even if it was very good. Could’ve bought myself a nice steak and made a sauce and chips for less and that’s with discount...will save my money for when I can eat out/go out properly but also use the time to get into better habits and avoid wasting money needlessly when that time does come...

enthusiasticsaver said:

Good that you  have internet sorted.  
The food situation is best sorted sooner rather than later before you start falling back into bad habits.  If it is because you have not bought any meals in yet then just a wander down to your local supermarket with a backpack should be fine for just you.  Get a couple of pizzas to put in a freezer compartment and a few trays of meat to prepare a spag bol or chicken stir fry or whatever.  Those are quick to do and don't take a lot of thinking about and you can either freeze a spare meal out of it or have the same meal two days running so you don't have to cook every day.  Think about the evening meal earlier in the day so you get organised. 

Agreed. Have enough basics and leftovers to get me through a couple of days plus some leftover chicken etc. I need to turn into something. Next plan is to pick another dish to stock up on more herbs and spices etc. So that I have the core bits in and can knock stuff together.

Not very exciting but tomorrow the plan is to have the next batch of left overs for lunch and then jacket potato for dinner (opposite to lunch today ).

Will get into a routine soon enough. Think I’ll do a toad in the hole at the weekend as that will last a few meals and love it with a proper onion gravy. A little less healthy but good comfort food and never made it myself from scratch.

Now that I have TV again, watched the football tonight and also got into Vikings. Mundane but occupies the time!

Onebrokelady

Definitely a good idea to use some of the weekend to cook all your food for the week,My DDs boyfriend used to live with us and he used to cook all his meals on a Sunday for the week,it saved him loads of time and money 

warby68

5 or 6 freezer drawers?
Come on @ryanm8655. You can sort the food with a couple of walking shops and a backpack Even get to an M&S or a Waitrose or a deli - nice treat food will still be cheaper and better than takeaway. 
I think its a bit of motivation that's been lacking due to the general weirdness of moving from family to solo and not quite finding your patterns yet.
Just buy plenty of easy things you like so you have choice to start with then build up your store cupboard ingredients recipe by recipe. 
We used Hello Fresh a bit during the first lockdowns, for a bit of fun and also the certainty of supply in the early weeks when I was shopping for 3 households and struggling to get deliveries. Sons liked the 'cooking by numbers' approach and learned to do quite a bit. I got a good offer of 50% off for quite a few boxes. Its expensive otherwise but also not too bad as a treat/hobby spend. I was wary of quality, especially meat, but it was actually very good.

Sarahwithlove

I'd live to have 5 or 6 draws. We have 4 which we share lol. It's rammer packed at the moment. Always have pizza and Quorn Nuggets in there. Have some microwave steam veg and then rest is meat or batch cooked meals. Today's dinner for example is Spag bol out freezer so then just spaghetti to cook. 

ryanm8655

Another full days work followed by a long (alcohol free) trek with a mate (my support bubble), not sure how far we went but probably about 10km, trekked to his in borough and then across to lambeth and over westminster bridge, then along the river to St Pauls and across the millenium bridge, through London Bridge and home. Will sleep well tonight ha. Really enjoyed it and it really good catch up. Feel much more settled. Then caught up over the phone with a mate in Australia who I haven't spoken to in ages, mooching slowly backwards and forwards along the river. Had to make a sandwich when I got in (just now) as was starving. Had a pretty small dinner and lunch so still well below maintenance calories for the day I reckon ha. Amazing what a difference a bit of exercise and socialisation can do for the mood...been having this weird thing where I feel anxious when I leave the flat, did have it initially in the flat but that has now gone so I guess it's getting used to a new environment. Probably good that pubs are closed as otherwise there would be more chance of opting to drink the anxiety away ha.

Found out the tesco metro closes at 8 in lockdown, which is a bit annoying so had to pop to the sainsbury's local. Stocked up on some more basics for when there is the temptation to get a takeaway. Picked up a couple of pizzas, fancy cod goujons (for a posh fish finger sandwich when feeling lazy) plus some chicken goujons to have at some point when wanting something easy. Also picked up a couple of packs of reduced meatballs and the ingredients to make a sauce, so might bulk cook those at the weekend and pick up a few fresh herbs etc. Also got a bottle of wine on offer as my stock is depleted haha. So may have a nice night in with a few glasses of wine and early bed at the weekend haha.

Busy day with work tomorrow, lots of meetings and need to sort out a resource plan for all of my projects and the people I manage. Hate that sort of thing but something you have to do when busy and managing people haha. Organisation isn't my strength, as you've all probably gathered ha. But getting better...

Onebrokelady said:

Definitely a good idea to use some of the weekend to cook all your food for the week,My DDs boyfriend used to live with us and he used to cook all his meals on a Sunday for the week,it saved him loads of time and money 

Thanks for the reply and it sounds like a productive way to spend the weekend. Thinking meatballs in a sauce but will also pick up some other ingredients and cook some other stuff up.

warby68 said:

5 or 6 freezer drawers?
Come on @ryanm8655. You can sort the food with a couple of walking shops and a backpack Even get to an M&S or a Waitrose or a deli - nice treat food will still be cheaper and better than takeaway. 
I think its a bit of motivation that's been lacking due to the general weirdness of moving from family to solo and not quite finding your patterns yet.
Just buy plenty of easy things you like so you have choice to start with then build up your store cupboard ingredients recipe by recipe. 
We used Hello Fresh a bit during the first lockdowns, for a bit of fun and also the certainty of supply in the early weeks when I was shopping for 3 households and struggling to get deliveries. Sons liked the 'cooking by numbers' approach and learned to do quite a bit. I got a good offer of 50% off for quite a few boxes. Its expensive otherwise but also not too bad as a treat/hobby spend. I was wary of quality, especially meat, but it was actually very good.

Haha, point taken. Realised I actually have 4 drawers (it's a floor to ceiling fridge freezer split evenly) but still a lot and loads of space, especially for one person!

Also a good point re: patterns. I've never really had a routine in my life to be honest. Everything has been off the cuff and chaotic. Living with family helped a lot with that and I am getting better though. Think it really helps the mind!

May give hello fresh a crack, have an offer for 65% off the first box and 35% off for 2 more, so might give it a crack just for convenience while the shops are hard to come by. Will also give me a few recipes to fall back on.

Sarahwithlove said:

I'd live to have 5 or 6 draws. We have 4 which we share lol. It's rammer packed at the moment. Always have pizza and Quorn Nuggets in there. Have some microwave steam veg and then rest is meat or batch cooked meals. Today's dinner for example is Spag bol out freezer so then just spaghetti to cook. 

Haha, I realised it's actually 4 but had that for the whole family when I was living with them ha! Plenty of space for one...took your advice and got a couple of pizzas, fancy fish fingers and chicken goujons for convenience food haha. Will freeze up some batch cooking over the weekend.

Another episode of Vikings and then I'll climb into bed ha.

Good news is I've had the heating off since I went out at about 7pm and have just got back and it was still 20.5 degrees on the remote thermostat. So heating bill may not be so high afterall. The flat seems to hold heat pretty well when the curtains are closed. Just need to do something about the drafty boiler cupboard in the lounge (has a huge vent that is great for ventillation but if you open the cupboard you feel a real gust ha. Issue in the daytime is that I do tend to feel cold unless it's 22 degrees ha. Annoying. Cooking etc. helps though and it's usually 19 degrees having been turned off all night and have no issues getting up with the cold ha. Maybe I need to acclimatise to a lower temperature.

Thanks,

Ryan

alt80

Walk sounds good. I had weird anxiety when I moved here tbh think it was half not believing I’d been able to buy the place lol. Possibly something similar just can’t believe you’re there/ made it back to London away from family etc. Probably not a bad thing pubs are closed ha.